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Beacon Hill Roll Call rings in a new legislative session

By Bob Katzen

Updated:
01/07/2013 08:06:01 AM EST

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Last week was full of activity on Beacon Hill. The Legislature approved and sent to Gov. Deval Patrick dozens of bills on voice votes, without roll calls, prior to the end of the 2012 session on Tuesday.

The Legislature convened the 2013-2014 session on Wednesday. Most of Wednesday's activity was ceremonial with the exception of the election of a speaker of the House and Senate president.

HOUSE RE-ELECTS SPEAKER DELEO: The House 128-29, re-elected Rep. Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, as Speaker of the House. DeLeo received the votes of all of the 128 Democrats who were present. Rep. Brad Jones, R-North Reading received the votes of all 29 Republicans and was re-elected GOP minority leader.

SENATE RE-ELECTS SENATE PRESIDENT MURRAY: The Senate 36-4, re-elected Sen. Therese Murray as Senate president. Murray received the votes of all of the chamber's 36 Democrats. Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) received the votes of all four Republicans and was re-elected GOP minority leader.

Deval Patrick announced that the 200 members of the Legislature will receive a 1.8 percent pay cut for the 2013-2014 legislative session that began last week. The cut will reduce the base salary of each senator and representative by $1,100 - from the current $61,132 to $60,032. The total savings from the $1,100 per member pay cut for the 200 legislators is $220,000 per year. Over the two-year 2013-3014 session, the savings is $440,000.

Patrick was required under the state constitution to determine the amount of a pay raise or cut that state legislators would receive for the 2013-2014 session. All Massachusetts governors are obligated to increase or decrease legislative salaries biennially under the terms of a constitutional amendment approved by the voters in 1998. The amendment, approved by a better than 2-1 margin, requires legislative salaries to be "increased or decreased at the same rate as increases or decreases in the median household income for the Commonwealth for the preceding two-year period, as ascertained by the governor."

This cut comes on the heels of a $306 pay cut for the 2011-2012 session. Prior to that, legislators' salaries had been raised every two years since the $46,410 base pay was first raised under the constitutional amendment in 2001. The new $60,032 salary means legislative salaries have been raised $13,622, or 29 percent, since the mandated salary adjustment became part of the state constitution.

DeLeo and Murray, both Democrats, also receive a $35,000 bonus for their service -- boosting their salaries to $95,032. Jones and Tarr receive a $22,500 bonus for their service -- boosting their salaries to $82,532.

ALLOW DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE VICTIMS TO BREAK THEIR APARTMENT LEASE (S 2402): Gov. Patrick signed into law a bill that allows victims of domestic violence to break their apartment lease without a penalty if they notify the owner in writing that they or a member of their household is a victim of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking. The measure also requires property owners to change the tenant's exterior locks if the tenant or occupants reasonably believe they are in danger.

Supporters said the measure is long overdue and is designed to make it financially easier for victims move if their assailant knows where they are living.

ORAL CANCER DRUGS (H 4349): Gov. Patrick signed legislation requiring insurers to provide the same coverage for oral cancer drugs that they currently provide for intravenous chemotherapy. Currently, many insurance companies cover the two treatments differently. They cover intravenous chemotherapy like many other treatments, with plan members paying a flat co-pay. However, oral chemotherapy drugs are considered a pharmacy benefit and the patient pays a percentage, depending on the plan, of the cost of the drug.

VIRTUAL SCHOOLS (S 2467): The governor signed a measure regulating "virtual schools" in Massachusetts. Virtual schools allow students to "attend" an online-only public school. These schools are aimed at creating an alternative education option with an individualized approach for students in unique situations including those who are physically disabled, seriously ill, gifted and talented or bullied. Massachusetts currently has only one virtual school, the Massachusetts Virtual Academy in Greenfield. It has 450 students and includes kindergarten through eighth grade. Provisions include limiting to ten the number of these schools that may operate at any one time and capping the total number of virtual-school students at 2 percent of the state's public school population, or approximately 19,000.

SABBATICALS (H 4295): Patrick signed a bill reducing from seven years to six years the period of time a faculty member must work at a state university before being eligible for a sabbatical. The measure is designed to make faculty sabbatical qualifications at state universities consistent with those used by private colleges.

DAM SAFETY (H 4557): The House and Senate approved and sent to the governor a bill that would establish a Revolving Loan Fund to provide low-interest, long-term loans to private dam owners and cities and towns to inspect, repair and remove some of the 3,000 plus dams in the Bay State. Other provisions require an inspection schedule that includes inspecting high-hazard dams every two years and an increase from $500 to $5,000 in the fines imposed on dam owners who violate state safety regulations.

LICENSE NATUROPATHIC DOCTORS (H 4368): Both branches approved and sent to the governor a bill creating a state board to license and regulate naturopathic doctors. The measure also requires that these doctors have extensive training in a naturopathic program at an approved naturopathic medical college. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians defines naturopathic doctors as "primary-care and specialty doctors who address the underlying cause of disease through effective, individualized natural therapies that integrate the healing powers of body, mind and spirit."

HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK'S SESSION? During the week of Dec. 31-Jan. 4, the House met for a total of 10 hours while the Senate met for a total of nine hours and 15 minutes.

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